Living and dealing to cancer for Sarvs is now a reality...please support the fundraising efforts of Sarvs family and friends for Herceptin.

Introduction

Sarvs Falefitu is a 40year old NZ born, Auckland bred Samoan/ Niuean. Sarvs is mother to four teenagers (Kroydon 19 years, Denae 16 years, Kendra 14 years, Grayson 13 years) and has been married to her 'Samoan warrior' for 19 1/2 years.

My gals, Denae (left) & Kendra

My boyz, Grayson (left) and Kroydon

I have breast cancer and so...

This blog has been created in the hopes that I could raise awareness of this 'evil influence thatspreads dangerously', according to Collins English Dictionary, Compact Edition, to fundraise to cover the majority of my Herceptin treatment and hopefully this might help other women even in the tiniest way who might be living and dealing to breast cancer also.I have Grade 2, HER2 positive type cancer and my cancer has moved away from the primary spot and invaded other parts of my body via my lymph vessels and blood vessels. Along with chemotherapy and radiotherapy I will also need Herceptin. NZ only funds Herceptin for 9 weeks but a full 12 months is recommended. I have opted to take the recommended 12 months and it will cost exactly $96,273.60. While some specialists are 'comfortable' with 9 weeks of Herceptin, I am not. I want to attend my teenagers graduations. I need to wave them goodbye when they go on their OE's. I wish to witness them all walk down the aisles, be present at the births of my grandchillens and finally do my big OE with my hubby too - of course without the grandchillens!!! Clearly I have far too much to live for and I implore anyone with time to please support my fundraisers or send any fundraising ideas our way.Your support will make a lasting difference to my quality of life and I sincerely thank you all in advance for your love and support.

Accolades

Sarvs wishes to acknowledge the amazing staff at St Marks Clinic who at the early days of her breast cancer diagnosis helped and coached her through one of the darkest days of her life.Thank you Michelle, Beverley, Jenny, Tracey, the wonderful surgeons Stephen and Stan. Most importantly Sarvs would like to acknowledge 'Johnny' for having the foresight to establish a beautiful haven such as St Marks Clinic many years ago for women such as herself.

Breakdown of Herceptin costs

Since day dot Dr Mike McCrystal my oncologist has been apologetic of the horrendous Herceptin costs for HER2+ women. Nothing to apologise about Mike it is out of your hands and ours however look closely at what Pharmac and NZ Government are blissfully content in handing to a cancer patient and their loved ones -

Maintenance dose cost:(13 maintenance treatments)Drug cost, delivery (+GST) 370mg $5251.35Nursing $250.00Medical $350.00Consumables $350.00Hospital charge $100.00GST $748.30Total $6734.65 maintenance dose at 6mg/ kgOverall total for full course: $96,273.60So dealing with the diagnosis of breast cancer, losing a breast, having major surgery, being put through chemo treatment, being hospitalised 3 times, going through radiotherapy, getting through the remission period, dealing with the emotional side of this all and then having to fundraise endlessly for Herceptin do you think Pharmac or NZ Government have the right to play God with our lives?!!

15 December 2008

Firstly thank you ever so much for your continued support and extended love during the most memorable (for want of a better word) time of our lives - even after all the blogging and interviews etc still there are never ever words that describe the gratitude!!!

Secondly, fantastic news regarding Herceptin.

Herceptin and service will be fully funded for the full 12 months in the public sector.

My oncologist is referring me back to the public system to receive this. I will be on a waiting list so I don't know how long that will be until MOH and DHB work out payments and prioritisation of patients due to staffing levels. So I continue to pay until the administration has been sorted and I may seek reimbursement from November 19 onwards. That will be interesting but I don't really care about the reimbursement to be honest.

Herceptin not service will be fully funded for the full 12 months in the private sector.

If I am unable to get back to the public sector I will continue my treatments where I am at (Mercy Hospital) and again until MOH work out and start payments for Herceptin I will only have to pay for the staffing and service in the private sector which compared to the cost of the drug was piss all...!!! So I continue to pay until the administration has been sorted and I may seek reimbursement from November 19 onwards. Again I really really don't care about the reimbursement.

I have enough funds to continue in the private sector and in the meantime my oncologist would have sent the paperwork with his recommendations to MOH and then DHB work out the staffing levels and beds etc over in the public sector or if DHB cannot manage the transfers I will remain in the private sector for fully funded 12 months of Herceptin. Of course MOH and DHB will need to make sure that it happens within a 4 week timeframe as patients cannot go without Herceptin any longer than that. Otherwise MOH will have to pay another loading dose.

The sleepless nights have been minimised by the fact that I no longer have to worry about how soon the cancer might return because I only had enough for 6 treatments, thanks to National...!!! Finally a man who is listening...lol...and delivering good on election promises! To all those super negative opinionated pratts that rant and rave on about the drain on society now this Herceptin is being fully funded and who haven't had the pleasure of being cut open, sliced, poisoned and burnt....MERRY XMAS & SERIOUSLY U P YOURS!!

On a nicer note...to everyone who crossed my path, laughed, cried and supported me and shaped my life during my journey I sincerely thank you and bid you good health, the merriest of Christmases and plenty of prosperous New Years's to come to you and your loved ones..

01 December 2008

Morning of Herceptin....A relaxing and pampered start to my day, breakfast in bed, cards of good wishes signed off with lots of love and heartfelt hugs from my loved ones before they head off to school and work on the morning of my first Herceptin treatment....huh...not even.More like up at sparrows fart to squeeze 8 hours of work into 4 from home after a couple of hours of sleep, in between sorting out the demands of selfish teens before shoving them out the door to face their world, fixing my own brekkie and trying to steer my head into the right space and out of the anxiety, stress and sad space before I drive myself to Mercy Hospital because my beloved couldn't be spared from work not to mention he had forgotten!Anyway, truth be really known as great as it would have been to have had my beloved remember and fuss over me I know that he would have stepped out of his comfort zone so why worry about his feelings as well as my own to complicate my already fragile raw emotions that I have leading up to any blood test or hospital appointment or on this particular morning my first Herceptin treatment?

Reflection of Herceptin...After several hours and 6 miserable attempts of finding a good vein, finally $8722.60 worth of gold (Herceptin) was administered. While I have no complaints about the public sector during chemotherapy there is a distinct feeling of absolute attention in the private sector.On the 3rd attempt at placing the canular in my vein it eventually slipped out causing an air bubble to form at the back of hand which hurt like mad. The Herceptin had nowhere to go.Anywho my oncologist nurse was immediately at my side to sort it out before my hand exploded - or at least felt like it!

Tips after Herceptin...For women about to begin Herceptin and wonder about the side effects here is my lot to compare with:- blood noses,- diahorea,- headaches,- sore throat,- achy lower joints,- chest pangs,- strange outbreaks of high fevers,- rashes on my body and I still get really tired.So sisters, continue to take it one day at a time.

Reflection after Herceptin...One adult child, three teens and a husband of 20 years remind me all the time that I am mother and wife regardless of my health and in many ways it is a blessing in disguise otherwise it would only be about me, wouldn't that be boring and naturally can't be entirely healthy!

What's on the Board Miss Ford?

As the start date for my treatment loomed closer and with the last glimmer of hope, I knew in my heart of hearts that target goal was not going to be met.

To keep the momentum and drive of any large fundraiser no matter how vital, does take a toll on your loved ones.

Along this long drawn out chapter in our journey we learned many things about each other and ourselves. We also along the way made some not so good decisions which in the bigger scheme of it all really was outweighed by the good decisions and many hours of laughter together.Many times the committee and I would not see the expected funds raised BUT these wonderful sisters put up a good, strong and hard campaign even in the face of their own adversities.

Taking into account what we didn't make from each fundraiser, taking out expenses used sometimes to run our fundraisers and the paid treatments I have received when ‘THE’ announcement was made November 19 I had enough funds left for another 4 treatments.

The National Government removed the anticipated sleepless nights, high anxiety levels and enormous stress of how many more fundraiser's we could possible hold before the funds dried up, let alone how much longer the committee could hold out.

Now I concentrate on healing and my loved ones.

My sincerest thank you to the my family, many friends and several strangers of NZ and across the ditch who supported in more ways than I could ever dream possible.

People I know who were effected in some way because of our fight had a change of heart and voted National. Thank you, thank you to the National Government who have made good on this promise, I can use this to help others who may not be so fortunate to have been given that silver lining of extended life like myself.

Many hands make light work

The saying 'many hands make light work' couldn't be further from the truth particularly as we witness others who have taken it into their own hands and have run (or are currently running) their own fundraisers for Sarvs Herceptin treatment.From the Committee we thank you sincerely for 'putting your money where your mouth is' by making the journey that much more merrier!After the completion of your own fundraiser for Sarvs please let us know what you did to fundraise, who was involved, how much you raised and photos for keepsakes as we know Sarvs would love to post it all on this blog. Details of your own fundraise can be emailed to all4sarvs@yahoo.co.nz

Proud to be Kelston Award

The Kelston community wanted to acknowledge great works from people within their community and I was privileged to be invited to speak for 10 minutes and present to my SHAVE OFF Boyz from my Shave Off fundraiser held back in May this year the Proud to be Kelston Awards. Above: The Gavet family (Kaisa was absent because he was in Tonga at the time). I opened with a ten minute speech and in true Samoan tradition my SHAVE OFF family arrived a couple of minutes before I finished...hahahaha...so I stopped and asked the audience if they wouldn't mind just waiting for them to settle into the hall because after all it was all about them!! Love you all for your love...!!!

IMMIGRATION CONTACT CENTRE

My workplace full of supportive folks reduced me to tears (which is very hard to do) by holding a 'Sarvs Day' to present their larger than life cheque for my Herceptin treatment!My desk and chair all decorated with pink shells, pink flowers, pink rosebud soap had a bag with a note that requested for me to put the items jnside on. Inside and just for me a pair of pink fairy wings, a pink bandana, a pink pair of groovy shades and a pink lei. Pizza's were the order of the day, eaten among the many pink balloons spread throughout the office!Unfortunately I was away unwell (aarggh!!) on Sarvs's Day but I understand the pizza's were great and I know much deserved for the hard work put into organising the fundraising events.

Immigration Contact Centre, thank you all so much for your wonderful efforts and to the R & R team (including Aleli Go) even though I missed this awesome day, please know that I am ever so grateful for such a gracious gesture.$1141.90 raised will go towards my Herceptin!!!

Akerei and Tila...WOW!!!

Big alofa's to Akerei and his sister Tila for an outstanding effort in raising $2000.00 for my Herceptin. Akerei, with a heart of gold decided that the funds he raised from his social would go to my treatment even though originally it was to go towards his trip to the States where they were having fundraiser league matches for the families of those that lost loved ones in the line of duty - I really could not have thanked Akerei and Tila enough for the huge love they showed for me and my family!! I would also like to thank G.Harris for gifting a luxury weekend at the Langham hotel to my husband and I complete with a butler and Pacific Blue for gifting return flights to anywhere in NZ for hubby and I to get away and forget about it all!!! Unfortunately the cool pics we took that night were not able to be bluetoothed from phone to PC but know that I was touched then and am still in awe of your kindness. Fa'afetai tele lava...!!!!

KELSTON BOYS HIGH SCHOOL ARTS DEPT.

KBHS Arts Deprt had a double whammy on July 3, 2008 by holding an art exhibition and raised $241.00 for my Herceptin. These wonderful boys will never cease to surprise me with their wonderful efforts for my cause...thank you to the wonderful young men at Kelston Boys High School...!!!

SIZZLIN' @ SAS's CONCERT

My mum, sister, friends and our teen daughters (Brittany, Edom, Syreeta, Denae, Kendra) and my sons (Kroydon and Grayson) braved the wet freakish weather to hold another sausage sizzle at Sweet n Sour's Fundraiser concert held again in Kelston on Saturday 28 June 08. SAS allowed us to sset up and sizzle away to continue our fundraising that night. Thanks SAS boyz...we made $195.30 during the intermission, not bad for 15 minutes!! Thanks also to my menfolk (hubby and 2 son's) who did the prep work for us, muwhaah! Good luck to Sweet n Sour who are off to USA for the World Hip Hop Competition. Represent fellas...!!!

BOP MEAT RAFFLE

A massive kia ora-cation to all the folks for getting behind the MEAT RAFFLE of the year that was masterminded and driven by Debbie Stewart, Esther Bonne and Tina Leitner.The awesome trio from Kawerau and Ohope along with the meat lovers of BOP russled up $2080.00 for my Herceptin treatment (clearly no vegetarians down there...!).

Thank you so very much for sending that support and love up my way, truly...!!

1st prize, $250 meat voucher

Jodi McIntosh (Whakatane)Ticket number: 423

2nd prize, $100 meat voucherFausa Kome (Mt Roskill)Ticket number: 217

3rd prize, $50 meat voucherPlacemakers (Whakatane)Ticket number: 377The boss brought 40 tickets, one for each of his staff. Everyone needs a boss like this - how cool is he!!

I can assure you that this meat raffle was not rigged as it was drawn under close police supervision!!

SHAVE OFF FUNDRAISER

Our SHAVE OFF was a fantastic night spent with family and friends turning up to support our cause.We hosted 65 guests and whilst gorging through the yummy-as finger food and sipping on good NZ wine we shaved off hair for one and half hours solid, laughing all the way to making a cool $1802.27..!!A huge thank you to 'Uncle George' and his gorgeous boys (including a few Kelston 1st 15 boys), my close friend Chris (Dr Evil..who loves ya babe!), our other friend Paddy who surprised us with a last minute decision to SHAVE OFF (with a glass of wine to help him along - honest Sheryl I had nothing to do with it!!), our quiet Tongan uso Iate, crazy Karis (still need a broom brother), my handsome son Kroydon - what a random dude and of course everyone that turned up to make it what it was. A fantastically successful evening of aroha. (pics will follow soon)**Thank you to special visitors Junior T and the Cakemaker on the night for their donation to a cause very close to their hearts. I was fortunate enough to get one of those delectable cupcakes too. My prayers and thoughts are with you Maara (another courageous survivor), Junior and family..oxo**

BABY LUAMANUVAE

Etinei Petra Luamanuvae arrived safely at 6.30am on Wednesday 16 April weighing in at 7 1/2 pounds. A grand total of $1025.00 was raised in her honour for my cause. Thank you Etinei Petra and her parents Liz and Sone for organising this fundraiser. A special thanks to Leka and Charlie who won the baby naming auction!! She is truly gorgeous!!

Etinei (bottom cutie right hand corner) with her coffee friends

CAREY'S HAIRCUTTING FUNDRAISER

Carey put her head on the chopping block or hair so to speak and with encouragement from her family and friends on the night they raised $1090.00 - what an expensice haircut!! Thanks Carey for biting the bullet and doing that for me!!

BOOBS COMEDY FUNDRAISER SHOW

WALKATHON - Walking the Distance

Crowds of people walked the distance with our first fundraiser on Saturday 1 March for my cause. From 6am till 12 midday dedicated family and friends came in full support helping to raise a whooping $8349.60. Thank you to everyone that made it a huge success!!!

GOLF TOURNAMENT - Puttin it for Sarvs

GOLF TOURNAMENT (Wed 4 June 08)We want to thank again everyone who gave up a day to support Sarvs's whom most had never met until registration but were touched enough by her plight to be there to create another memorable milestone along our journey. Our extraordinary teams - Ngati Cocco, Fantastic Four, Par Lagi's, Hawai'i 5.0, John's Mob, Fortress, Saints, Placemakers (Mt Wgtn), Jacobsen;'s, Manu Samoa, Devil's and Leftover (lol).$1102.00 was raised through this awesome event!!!Special thanks to Ueta for organising the entire event with prizes; Karen and Fortress for donating more prizes, Bazza and Jan who drove all the way from Whangarei (not to mention beat most of the Aucklander's to registration...LOL...!!), to the staff from Chamberlain who welcomed us all and the 2 lovely registration ladies Margs and Las.

SAUSAGE SIZZLE

The SAUSAGE SIZZLE run by the committee was a huge success. We were kept busy feeding hordes of giving people for just $1.00 and made $515.30. Not bad for half a days work!!!

Do you believe Pharmac should fund the proven 12 month Herceptin treatment for early stage HER2+ breast cancer so that it does not progress to HER2+ advanced uncurable breast cancer? (For more information visit: www.breastcancer.org.nz)

Glossary

Adjuvant chemotherapy: cancer treatment with drugs to assist another treatmentBenign: a tumour that is not cancerous and will not spread to other parts of bodyBiopsy: removal of a small amount of cells or tissues so that it can be examined under a microscopeChemotherapy: use of special drugs to treat cancer by killing cancer cells or slowing the growthHER2: Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor-type 2Hormone receptors: indicators on the surface of some cancer cells suggesting cancer cells are reliant on hormones to assist in the cancer growth and so it might respond to hormone treatmentLOL: Laugh Out Loud (text lingo)Lymph or lymphatic: lymphatic system is part of the immune system protecting the body against bacteria and parasites. It is a network of small lymph nodes connected by thin lymph vessels branching into every part of the body. Lymph fluid flows through this system and carries cells to fight disease and infectionLymph glands or nodes: small kidney shaped sacs found along the lymphatic system. Lymph nodes filter the lymph fluid removing bacteria and other harmful agents such as cancer cells. Lymph nodes are in your abdomen, neck, armpit and groin.Malignant: a tumour that is cancerous and likely to spread if it is not treatedMammogram: x-ray of the breast to examine a breast lump; can be used to detect a breast cancer before a lump can be detectedMasectomy: surgical removal of the breastMestastatic: another cancer that has grown in a different part of the body because of the spread of cancer cells from the original site. Sometimes called secondary cancer.Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy: chemotherapy given before the primary treatment to improve the effectiveness of the treatmentNeutropenic: a haematological disorder charactised by abnormally low number of neutrophil granulocytes (type of white blood cells or neutropils)Neutrophils: most abundant type of white blood count cells in humans and form an intergral part of the immune system; usually makes up 50-70% of white blood cells and serve as primary defense against infections by killing bacteria in the bloodRadiation therapy: the use of radiation usually x-rays to kill cancer cells or injure them so they do not multiply or grow.Tumour: a lump or swelling which can be benign or malignantUltrasound: sound waves of high frequency used to examine structures within the body

Messages of support from 'YOU'

15.01.08Hi there Sarvs and family,Just to let you know that we are thinking of you as you go through your treatment today. Be strong and know that there are many people out there supporting you from near and far.It is at times like this that you need to draw courage and strength from others to fight this battle as the journey would seem insurmountable on your own.Please know that if there is anything else we can do for you we would love to help.Love Esther Mike and girls - Ohope14.01.08Hi there I heard about the fundraising through my cousin Alan Leitner. I hope this helps in some small way. God Bless you and the family... Alofa's from Melbourne, Sala Ta'avili xox

12.01.08To Sarvs!Mate! You haven't changed with your take the bulls by the horn attitude to life Sister!Apologies for not saying hi to you at CCF just wayside with shucks no excuse really eh! Anyways I love the blog its excellent and I must pass it on to Anne. I know when she found out she was sad but reading your blog its sad, scarey and like a whole new lease on life. But then thats what I see and it may be different when you're in it eh Sis! Just letting you know mate you're a writer I enjoy it and look forward to hearing more of this journey. I take part in your journey by keeping you and the family in my daily prayers. I know for some it may mean nothing but to me God is my comfort, joy, security and thats all I know that I can turn to when I lift those I love and care before Him in all situations negative or positive. Okay Sis be good (wateva) and live life to the max. Love you! PeaceTulili